Cleaning device comprising cleaning strips

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device includes a main body and cleaning strips bound to the main body at binding regions. The cleaning strips each include cleaning regions. At least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips is strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body. A cleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip is less strengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region. Different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2017/050912, filed on Jan.18, 2017, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2016002 265.5, filed on Feb. 26, 2016. The International Application waspublished in German on Aug. 31, 2017 as WO 2017/144198 under PCT Article21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a cleaning device.

BACKGROUND

A cleaning device that comprises cleaning strips is already known fromU.S. Pat. No. 6,253,408 B1. However, the cleaning strips can be spreadapart only by means of a laborious manufacturing process so as to extendover a wide and large surface area.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cleaning devicecomprising: a main body; and cleaning strips bound to the main body atbinding regions, the cleaning strips each comprising cleaning regions,at least one cleaning strip of the cleaning strips being strengthened atthe binding region thereof to the main body, and a cleaning region ofthe at least one cleaning strip being less strengthened or notstrengthened compared with the binding region, wherein differentcleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail belowbased on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to theexemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of variousembodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading thefollowing detailed description with reference to the attached drawingswhich illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cleaning device comprising dangling cleaningstrips,

FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaning device from below, it being possible toidentify that cleaning strips and cleaning regions of different widthsare provided, and

FIG. 3 shows three types of cleaning strips, depicted on the basis ofindividual cleaning strips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the invention, textile cleaning strips are used which arestrengthened in the binding region thereof to the cleaning device. Thecleaning strips are preferably strengthened in the center thereof, as aresult of which it is possible to spread apart the textile of which thecleaning strips consist. At the same time, a production process that isalready known can be retained. Again according to the invention,different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have different widths.Textile cleaning strips of different widths are used. This allows formaximum surface coverage. Wider cleaning strips and/or cleaning regionsincrease the planar contact of the highly effective outer cleaningstrips. This increases the efficiency of the textile.

The cleaning device, specifically the mop, is designed such that somecleaning strips are wider than the rest of the cleaning strips. Thecombination of widened cleaning strips, the free ends of which arepreferably on the outside, and cleaning strips having a smaller widthallows for an overall widening of the cleaning device, specifically themop. The previously known manufacturing method can be retained, onlynegligibly more material needing to be used.

The strengthening and widening of cleaning strips in combination make itpossible to spread out the mop, as a result of which it is possible tocover a larger wiping surface area. This effect would not occur if onlywider cleaning strips or only strengthening were provided. In addition,the widening can be achieved using known work steps, and no furthersteps are required for processing. Cost-optimized and simple manufactureis thus possible, and good cleaning efficiency is provided.

This solves the problem mentioned at the outset.

The binding region may comprise a lamination. The strengthening could bedesigned as lamination. As a result, just one textile fabric can be usedto manufacture a strengthened cleaning strip.

The cleaning strips may also be designed as loops.

Different cleaning regions may also supplement one another.Advantageously, different cleaning regions are provided. For example,there are cleaning regions that allow more planar wiping contact andthus allow, in a manner comparable to a flat mop, rapid and thoroughcleaning. On account of a corresponding design, for example due to finerends, further cleaning regions allow particularly favorable cleaning ofcorners and other locations that are difficult to access. Thesedifferent cleaning regions are arranged in or on the cleaning device soas to be mutually supporting.

Specifically, three types of cleaning strips may be provided, whichstrips comprise a central lamination by means of a microfiber textileand additionally comprise flocking in the lower region. Preferably, aplurality of cleaning regions are formed on a cleaning strip. However,all three cleaning strips can use said cleaning regions simultaneouslywhen wiping, and therefore flock on a first cleaning strip can besupplemented by flock on a second cleaning strip and by flock on a thirdcleaning strip.

The cleaning device can thus be designed such that one or more cleaningregions are formed as a cross. This indicates a preferred wipingdirection. This specifically assists the mentioned planar contact.

Two different widths may be in a ratio of 1:1.1-2, preferably in a ratioof 1:1.25-1.5, to one another. These ratios have been found to beparticularly advantageous.

At least one cleaning region could be more planar than another. Thisallows for a wiping process having wider wiping contact.

At least one cleaning region could be narrower than another. This allowsfor isolated cleaning. Moreover, it is possible to reach locations thatare difficult to access.

The mop head may be a shape that is not round. This assists the use ofthe different widths. The planar contact is assisted by the fact thatmop head is a shape that is not round. This indicates to the userisolated cleaning and accessibility of locations hard to access in thelongitudinal direction, and planar use in the transverse direction.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cleaning device 1 comprising a main body that isformed as a mop head, cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c being bound to themain body 2 at the binding regions 5, 5 c thereof, the cleaning strips4, 4 a, 4 c each comprising cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c, at least onecleaning strip 4, 4 c being strengthened at the binding region 5, 5 cthereof to the main body 2, and a cleaning region 6, 6 c of the cleaningstrip 4, 4 c being less strengthened or not strengthened compared withthe binding region 5, 5 c.

Different cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and/or cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6c have different widths. The binding region 5, 5 c comprises alamination. Different cleaning regions 6, 6 a, 6 c supplement oneanother. Two different widths are in a ratio of 1:1.1-2, preferably in aratio of 1:1.25-1.5, to one another. At least one cleaning region 6 ismore planar than another cleaning region 6 a, 6 c. At least one cleaningregion 6 a, 6 c is narrower than another cleaning region 6. The mop headis of a shape that is not round.

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device 1, specifically a mop, comprising a mainbody 2 and a handle 3, by means of which a user can move the cleaningdevice 1 on a surface to be cleaned.

The binding region 5, 5 c extends over the center of the cleaning strip4, 4 c and ends at the cleaning regions 6, 6 c. The cleaning regions 6,specifically the cleaning regions 6 facing the free ends 7, are lessstrengthened compared with the binding region 5.

In the embodiment shown here, the strengthening is achieved by means ofa lamination. In the binding region 5, 5 c, a separate textile materialis laminated onto the textile substrate material, for example of acleaning strip 4, 4 c. It would technically also be conceivable,however, for the strengthening to be achieved for example by means ofmore intense heat treatment or tighter needling of the substratematerial at the binding region 5, 5 c.

FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaning device 1 from below, showing thatdifferent cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and different cleaning regions 6,6 a, 6 c have different widths. The free ends 7 of the wider cleaningstrips 4 protrude radially further outwards than the free ends 7 a ofthe narrower cleaning strips 4 a which are split up into two partialstrips 4 b in portions.

FIG. 3 shows individual cleaning strips 4, 4 a, 4 c and the widthsthereof. The central, wider cleaning strip 4 has a width x of 5 cm. Theleft-hand, narrower cleaning strip 4 a has a width z of 3.75 cm. Theleft-hand cleaning strip 4 a is split up into two partial strips 4 b inportions, each of which partial strips has a width y of 1.875 cm. Afurther cleaning strip 4 c is shown on the right-hand side, which stripis narrower than the central, wider cleaning strip 4. The cleaningregion 6 a is composed of two cleaning regions 6 b of the partial strips4 b.

However, the binding region 5, 5 c may also have a cleaning effect.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such illustration and descriptionare to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Itwill be understood that changes and modifications may be made by thoseof ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. Inparticular, the present invention covers further embodiments with anycombination of features from different embodiments described above andbelow. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the inventionrefer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily allembodiments.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadestreasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. Forexample, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an elementshould not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements.Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as beinginclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “Aand B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing descriptionthat only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “atleast one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a groupof elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted asrequiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C,regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise.Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B orC” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from thelisted elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., Aand B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

1. A cleaning device comprising: a main body; and cleaning strips boundto the main body at binding regions, the cleaning strips each comprisingcleaning regions, at least one cleaning strip of the cleaning stripsbeing strengthened at the binding region thereof to the main body, and acleaning region of the at least one cleaning strip being lessstrengthened or not strengthened compared with the binding region,wherein different cleaning strips and/or cleaning regions have differentwidths.
 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the bindingregion comprises a lamination.
 3. The cleaning device according to claim1, wherein different cleaning regions supplement one another.
 4. Thecleaning device according to claim 1, wherein two different widths arein a ratio of 1:1.2 to one another.
 5. The cleaning device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one cleaning region is more planar thananother cleaning region.
 6. The cleaning device according to claim 1,wherein at least one cleaning region is narrower than another cleaningregion.
 7. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a mop headof the cleaning device is of a shape that is not round.
 8. The cleaningdevice according to claim 4, wherein the ratio is 1:1.25-1.5.